Christmas Celebration Part II

After driving back from Vermont on Sunday, we celebrated Christmas at my Mom's house with a fabulous dinner of Osso Bucco with the neighbors and our gift exchange.
I would give you the recipe for the Osso Bucco because it is incredible. However, we have connections apparently and when we asked the Springwater Bistro (our favorite restaurant) for the recipe to cook it, they started giving us the instructions and then decided they would just make it for us! Thanks Damon, it was SO great!!

(Perhaps it was the slightly glazed over look we were getting in our eyes when Damon started explaining how to prepare the meat and then create the sauce and whatnot. Maybe they had no faith in us and figured they see us so regularly in their restaurant because we have no idea how to do anything other than open a can of Chef Boyardee. I, however, am going to stick with the thought that they are just nice. That feels better.)

A very nice night indeed. Here we are.



And here is the crazy Sammy. He was sitting in the tree but my camera only caught his bum as he was hoping down. Or, maybe he is really just mooning all of us?



Sidebar:
I guess I really can't discuss the holidays without talking about some major life changes that have been going on around here. I mean, I guess I could, this is MY blog after all. But, that would be ignoring the fact that things are different.

Considering that I think it is pretty much Gram and Aunt Bev who read this anyway, it doesn't matter much as you already know what is going on. But, whatever.

My parents have separated. It actually happened the beginning of October, but I haven't really been interested in discussing it. Actually, not real interested in discussing it now, just offering up some facts and explaining things like why 141 Lincoln Avenue is now referred to as "my Mom's house" and why you haven't seen my Dad is some of these outings photos. No, my Dad has not been eaten by a wild bear or anything, he is doing well. He just doesn't live with my Mom anymore and now when we get together we do thing separately.

We will be celebrating Christmas with my Dad and Sarah and Tim's Dad at our house tonight. Tomorrow morning early we head off to Arkansas to see Tim's Mom's side of the family.
I guess the upside of all of this is that Christmas ends up being 2 weeks long and we get to spend quality time with each of them independantly. The downside of this is, well, my parents are separated.
Holidays are a bit surreal this year.